📑 Sections (3)

3. Final check of the guitar before the master

The checklist so your guitar survives the master: fizz that gets boosted, mono compatibility, references.

Before calling the mix finished, run through this checklist focused on the guitar. These are the things the master exaggerates and that, if you let them pass, will jump out when the song goes up in level. Everything is fixed in the mix; this is just verifying.

The checklist

Hear what a master “boosts”

This A/B applies a typical master improvement (air boost + compression that evens out and raises the level). Notice how the AFTER brightens and squeezes: that same thing happens to your guitar when mastering. If in the AFTER your material gets harsh, it’s a sign to tame the fizz in the mix.

What a master 'boosts': before / after

The AFTER adds air and squeezes the level, similar to what a master does. Switch between the two at the same volume and pay attention to whether harshness or fizz appears: that has to be tamed in the mix, not here.

“AFTER” applies this chain to the sound:

  1. High boost (+4 dB from 4.5 kHz) → more “air” and brightness.
  2. Gentle compression (≈3:1) → more even and “glued”.
  3. A touch of volume to compensate.

What to listen for: “AFTER” sounds more bright, present and stable.

A/B comparator: the same audio with and without the improvement.
  • •BEFORE — the raw, unprocessed sound.
  • •AFTER — with the chain applied (air + compression + level).
The button with the lit border is the one you're hearing now. Switch at the same volume to judge the difference properly.

🎧 Audio to processChoose which sound goes through the effect:

  • •🎸 Bass — a synthesized riff with dynamics: ideal for hearing compression.
  • •📢 Pink noise — an even sound across the whole spectrum: ideal for “seeing” the EQ.
  • •🎵 Load your audio — your own file (MP3, WAV, OGG, FLAC, M4A…); it's processed locally in your browser and isn't uploaded anywhere.
🟠 Better to set it now· in mixing

This check is done BEFORE closing the mix because everything you find is fixed there. Detecting fizz or a phase problem after the master forces you to redo the work.

References: the best tool

What you should NOT chase yet

Your final guitar mix for the checkPending — this one is on you

Upload the guitar mix of the guide song (stereo bus, WAV 24/48) to prodmus_frontend/public/audio/guitarra/. With that I’ll replace the generic example with an A/B your mix vs your mix ‘as a master would squeeze it’, so you can see on your own material whether fizz or mud appears that’s worth taming.

Quick path — pre-master check

Quick path

  1. Does the guitar get harsh when brightened? Tame the fizz in the mix.
  2. Does it hold up in mono without dulling? Check phase between doubled takes.
  3. Did the HPF leave the lows clean? No mud for the master to turn into rumble.
  4. Is there headroom (~−6 dBFS) and no hidden limiter on the bus?
  5. Compare against a commercial reference track at the same volume.

Expected result

Expected result

Your guitar ends up master-proof: no fizz that spikes when brightened, mono-compatible, no mud and with headroom, and contrasted against a commercial reference. With this you close the end-to-end guitar journey (recording → mixing → master notions). The next big milestone is adding the other sources and building the final master of the guide song with the whole band.